Synonyms of plead

plead 1 of 7

verb (1)

ˈplēd 

as in to argue

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration

can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• argue
• contend
• reason
• convince
• insist
• assert
• explain
• maintain
• persuade
• justify
• mention
• suggest
• claim
• consider
• cite
• urge
• affirm
• propose
• defend
• advise
• submit
• offer
• adduce
• discuss
• counsel
• give
• enforce
• recommend
• advocate
• avow
• aver
• rebut
• refute
• rationalize
• advance
• disprove
• support
• avouch
• counter
• espouse
• confute
• debate
• champion

plead (for)

2 of 7

verb (2)

as in to seek

to make a request for

the children pleaded for a kitten for Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seek
• request
• call (for)
• speak (for)
• sue (for)
• ask (for)
• wish (for)
• apply (for)
• beg (for)
• desire
• require
• press (for)
• quest
• clamor (for)
• insist (on)
• demand
• urge
• petition (for)
• solicit
• claim
• invite
• invoke
• bespeak
• exact
• importune
• enjoin
• requisition

plead (to)

3 of 7

verb (3)

as in to beg

to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner

weary of charities that are always pleading to people of modest means to contribute even more than they already have

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beg
• petition
• appeal (to)
• pray
• call on
• ask
• beseech
• implore
• impetrate
• conjure
• entreat
• require
• besiege
• solicit
• supplicate
• request
• importune
• invoke
• desire
• compel
• sponge
• insist
• force
• coerce
• demand
• bludge
• cadge
• claim
• mooch
• command

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suggest
• imply
• please
• hint
• intimate
• satisfy
• appease
• gratify
• placate
• oblige
• content
• pacify
• conciliate
• comfort
• console
• quiet
• mollify

pleaded

4 of 7

verb (4)

variants or pled also plead

past tense of plead

as in argued

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration

can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• argued
• reasoned
• contended
• insisted
• convinced
• asserted
• maintained
• explained
• mentioned
• persuaded
• claimed
• justified
• suggested
• urged
• cited
• considered
• affirmed
• adduced
• proposed
• advised
• offered
• submitted
• averred
• discussed
• recommended
• defended
• advocated
• gave
• enforced
• counseled
• countered
• championed
• avowed
• refuted
• advanced
• espoused
• supported
• debated
• avouched
• rationalized
• rebutted
• disproved
• confuted

pleading

5 of 7

adjective

as in prayerful

asking humbly

a pleading husband seeking forgiveness once again from his long-suffering wife

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prayerful
• begging
• soliciting
• suppliant
• persistent
• beseeching
• imploring
• supplicatory
• entreating
• insistent
• supplicating
• supplicant
• importunate

pleading

6 of 7

noun

ˈplē-diŋ 

as in plea

an earnest request

coldhearted tourists pointedly ignoring the pleadings of the city's many street urchins

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plea
• appeal
• prayer
• petition
• cry
• desire
• entreaty
• solicitation
• suit
• supplication
• demand
• application
• adjuration
• call
• insistence
• suppliance
• conjuration
• requisition
• claim

pleading

7 of 7

verb (5)

present participle of plead

as in arguing

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration

can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arguing
• reasoning
• contending
• insisting
• asserting
• convincing
• explaining
• justifying
• maintaining
• claiming
• mentioning
• persuading
• suggesting
• urging
• citing
• considering
• proposing
• affirming
• submitting
• offering
• advising
• defending
• advocating
• adducing
• enforcing
• giving
• discussing
• recommending
• averring
• avowing
• counseling
• rationalizing
• advancing
• refuting
• debating
• supporting
• countering
• rebutting
• championing
• avouching
• disproving
• espousing
• confuting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of plead

Verb

Luigi Mangione, the 28-year-old accused of killing a health care executive on a Manhattan street, pleaded guilty to stalking charges in federal court Friday. — Brian Mann, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026

Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to stalking charges in the 2024 ambush killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a move that could upend a looming state murder trial. — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Verb

Acton went after Ramaswamy after a previous family bodyguard pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges on Thursday. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2026

Nor did Mangione plead guilty to avoid a potential death sentence. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Noun

The Times stands by our journalism, and the president’s legal pleadings will not change that or deter further reporting. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 28 July 2026

In the picture, James sports a Cavs jersey from his playing days near his hometown alongside the pleading caption. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026

Verb

Reiner has been held in custody without bail since pleading not guilty to the murders in February. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

Earlier in 2026, LaPlaca was sentenced to three years in a diversionary program for first-time offenders after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and a fourth-degree child abuse charge. — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing plead

• plead (for)
• plead (to)